Geography Department > Graduate Study > Doctoral Program > Research Skills
Research Skills
A minimum of six credits of coursework in research methods or techniques approved by the student’s graduate committee is required. Students must take one course in research techniques appropriate to their field of specialization which may include statistics, cartography, remote sensing, GIS, quantitative or qualitative methods, computer applications, field methods, experimental methods, laboratory techniques or bibliographic techniques.
The student’s dissertation committee may also require competency in a foreign language in addition to the research skills requirement if a foreign language is essential to the student’s dissertation research. Competency, in a language other than English, may be demonstrated by passing the foreign language proficiency examination administered by their respective language departments. In some cases, individuals can also be certified competent in their language by a qualified instructor or examiner. The department will also accept the completion of the second semester of 300-level language instruction with a grade of B (3.0) or better.
